No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#1028 | A new head coach, a new fan zone, and a transfer market on hold? Ed and Wayne talk about United's new Women's team coach, Eva Olid, who has joined after Marc Skinner's exit. What is Skinner's legacy after 5 years at the club? He achieved Champions League qualification and won the FA Cup, despite restrictions on the club's budget. And yet, there won't be too many tears shed for a manager who rubbed a lot of players and fans up the wrong way with his personality.

Olid arrives on a deal to June 2028, fresh from a first-ever SWPL title at Hearts last season. Her record with young players inside a small budget is a strong coaching profile but it also sounds like a job description written by United's finance department.

Then on to the club's relationship with fans. The new Paddock fan zone will welcome 1,300 fans just behind the Stretford End, opening in the autumn subject to planning approval. Is this cynical profiteering by the club or an attempt to boost the match day atmosphere? At a time when the club feels like it's at war with fans, there's been a mixed reaction.

Finally, the transfer market, in which United appear to be moving very slowly. Youri Tielemans was announced three weeks ago now. Are there any more to come?

0:00 Intro

2:03 Women's Team: Eva Oli Replaces Mark Skinner

20:52 Fan Zone & Matchday Atmosphere

28:15 Transfer Market: Preseason & Mason Mount

37:46 Midfield Reinforcements & the Real Madrid Domino

47:03 Wrap-Up & Outro

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#1027 | Ed and Dom pull three stories into one. FIFA wants to privatise itself, United want fewer season ticket holders and £100m no longer seems like a lot of money in the transfer market.

Gianni Infantino's plan was to privatise FIFA's commercial entity and sell a stake to private equity. If he gets his way we'll see World Cups and Club World Cups every summer.

Old Trafford's crackdown on season ticket holders is part of the same movement. United are cancelling season tickets over what the club calls touting. Fans say it's nonsense. Fewer season ticket holders, and dynamic pricing on the way?

Meanwhile, Chelsea have spent £117m on Morgan Rogers while operating under a UEFA settlement. Spurs have blown £185 million on two midfielders. City are lining up another £100 million midfielder they may loan out. United have done very little.

Kids on the way out? Harry Amass and Radek Vitek are reportedly available for sale.

Four friendlies remain: Atlético Madrid, PSG, Leeds and Milan. World Cup players are filtering back slowly. Is a third midfielder, left-back, or forward on the way in?

A short chat about United's kits closes out the the pod.

00:00 Introduction and Preseason Recap
10:11 Transfer Priorities and Squad Needs
14:46 Youth Academy Player Sales
24:03 Rivals' Transfer Spending
34:34 Season Outlook
37:19 Season Ticket Controversy
44:15 Football's Financial Landscape
49:09 Kit Chat and Wrap-up

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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#1026 | Ed and Dharnish talk about the evolution of United’s tactics this season. What evidence have wee seen after two pre-season games, albeit with continuing player absences after the World Cup?

What impact has Andrey Santos on the side, what does Youri Tielemans capture mean, what changes are likely to United’s in-possession game as a result?

Then the gaps: why do United need another midfielder, can the club strengthen at fullback, and if Marcus Rashford returns, what impact might it have?

00:00 The Tactics Show

00:26 Intro and Preseason

04:49 Playing Style

16:41 Fullback Situation and Squad Depth

21:44 Marcus Rashford's Future

31:19 Youth Prospects and Defenders

32:08 Athletico Madrid Preview

34:40 Wrap Up and Transfer Market Outlook

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.

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#1025 | Adam and Ed pick over United’s pre-season defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki. Can we learn anything from 45 minutes of action? At least there was a first look at new signing Andrey Santos. Then an XI made up of reserves played out an entertaining second half without finding the net.
Then there’s a crazy match for third place in the World Cup, with England beating France 6-4. Kobbie Mainoo was injured and didn’t feature. The only outfield English player not to get any minutes at the tournament.
Finally, with Morgan Rogers moving to Chelsea for an eye-watering £117 million, can United find any value for money as they search for a third midfield signing and other players to fill out the squad.

00:00 Open

00:51 Catching Up with Adam

04:07 England, Helsinki and United's Preseason Opener

08:25 Takeaways

12:08 Transfer Market Outlook

15:23 Coaching Staff Questions

22:20 World Cup Third-Place Playoff and England Review

49:55 Transfer Fees and Chelsea's Spending

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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#1024 | Ed and Daniel pick over the wreckage of England's World Cup, and neither is in a forgiving mood.

The charge is that Thomas Tuchel did not just lose the semi-final, he threw it away. From the squad he built for one way of playing, the ball-players left at home, and a midfield of athletes with nobody to control a game, which is why the calls for Kobbie Mainoo only grew louder all tournament.

On the match itself, England managed the first 55 minutes well and shut Messi out before Tuchel took off his goalscorer, went to a back five and codified a retreat so complete that England managed two accurate passes in 18 minutes. It’s a sacking offense, but the FA, who backed Tuchel on LinkedIn within the hour and tied him to Euro 2028, will do nothing.

Then there’s Kane's future and the lack of a successor, England's missing identity and the intensity gap with everyone else, and to close, a turn to United, Carrick's project, summer signings, and a pre-season that kicks off against Wrexham in Helsinki.

0:00 Intro

5:29 Tuchel's Tactics and Balance Issues

15:03 Argentina Collapse

26:16 Should Tuchel Be Sacked?

28:33 Euro 2028 and Harry Kane's Future

38:35 England's National Identity

43:55 Manchester United Preview

52:37 Outro

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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